As if pregnancy isn’t scary enough, there are tons of myths about what you can and can’t do during what should be a special time. From ancient times – when it was thought you could influence the gender of your baby just by sleeping on a different side – till today, well-meaning know-it-alls have been telling half truths and outright falsehoods to expecting mothers.
Some of these myths need to be busted, to help you relax and only worry about what really matters.
1.Eating for two
People throw out this phrase all the time, but it’s almost entirely inaccurate, and a dangerous way to prepare your body for birth. Yes, you need to eat more than usual, so that both you and your baby get all the nutrients you need. But a growing fetus does not need nearly as much as a full grown adult!
What you should do:
The more accurate proportion is about one-fifth. Too much more may lead to childhood obesity and diabetes.
2.Sleep only on the left side
The idea behind this is that the weight of your baby will press down on the large vein if you sleep on your back, hampering blood flow to your heart. If you sleep on the right, the weight will smoosh your liver.
The truth is that our bodies are adept at dealing with logistical issues like these. Most people have limited control over how they sleep, and that has not ever been a problem for pregnant women. To be safe, try not to sleep on your back in the 3rd trimester.
What you should do:
Sleep in whatever position is most comfortable – except on your stomach, of course – at least in the first 2 trimesters. You’ll want all the rest you can get before the baby arrives.
3.Stay on the ground during your 3rd trimester
Everyone knows that you shouldn’t fly during your 3rd trimester. Only some know that it’s not going to cause you any harm. Many airlines don’t allow it because of the risk of your going into labour during the flight. The flight itself won’t hurt.
What you should do:
Go wherever you need to get to. Unless, of course, you’re due any day now.
4.Walk into labour
Think walking will make labour go faster? Unfortunately, there’s no effective way to hasten labour. Pacing may calm you down, but if you’d rather be horizontal, lay yourself out.
What you should do:
Whatever makes you feel the best you can.
5.Don’t eat (all) sweets
Sweets are not a great idea during pregnancy. They may not ever be a great idea – after all, they’re mostly chock-full of sugar. But there’s a big, important exception to the rule.
Chocolate.
Yes, the wonderful news is that studies show that women who eat chocolate regularly during pregnancy have babies who show less fear and laugh more at the age of 6 months. Plus, you’ll be at less risk for preeclampsia – a low blood pressure condition that can develop in the 3rd trimester.
What you should do:
Eat chocolate, but don’t overdo it. You can eat chocolate every day, but eating too much will crowd out healthy food and lead to excessive weight gain. Also, chocolate contains caffeine, which you should be limiting.
Stay away from cats
There are a couple of reasons given for this. One has to do with when your baby has been born – cats have “been known” to suck the breath out of babies, due to jealousy. While this may have happened on a freak occasion, it’s incredibly unlikely.
The 2nd is that cat excrement can give you toxoplasmosis, which can be fatal to an unborn baby.
There is truth to this, but it mainly means you should avoid changing the litter box, as the cat itself is not dangerous. Also, if you’ve owned cats for a long time, you’ve almost definitely contracted toxoplasmosis before, and are now immune to it.
What you should do:
Keep the cat. Get someone else to change the litter.
7.Neglect your furniture
The idea that polished furniture can harm pregnant women and their babies has been floating around for years. While it’s true that furniture polish might be harmful, that’s only when you’re around it a lot. So if your job involves polishing furniture regularly, you may have a problem. But don’t be scared to sit on your couch.
What you should do:
Try to avoid polishing furniture if that’s something you regularly do. Once in awhile is probably fine. Don’t be scared of sitting down.
8.Avoid exercise
The responsibility of carrying a tiny being in your womb is physically very scary. You don’t want to engage in any sort of activities that could damage that fragile being. Avoiding exercise sounds rational, and you’d probably prefer it to be true.
But research has shown that babies of mothers who exercise during pregnancy have better cardiovascular health, lower birth weight, and bigger brains!
What you should do:
Do regular exercise. Avoid contact sports. Talk to your obstetrician about how best to work out.
9.Don’t lift your hands over your head or touch your toes
Yes, we’re scared of the safety of our babies in the womb. We don’t want to risk getting into any position that might harm them. But mostly, you’re fine. Lifting your hands up in the air and touching your toes will cause you no problems at all.
What you should do:
Lift your hands and touch your toes to your heart’s desire (unless you have a specific medical condition that complicates things).
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